Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-23

perS war Volumes.
Yanks are making over the bay gallant
and experienced Confederate officer says
it will take them just five years and three
months to take Mobile. By that time we
may indulge the hope that something will
turn upn
The evening of April IL, the writer with
his company crossed over to Mobile and
that night slept in vacant house near the
bay. A few feet in front was huge can
non with pyramid of cannon balls by its
side. Near by was magazine containing
shells and other explosive ammunition,
looking much like an outdoor cellar. The
grass over this and all about the cannon
was green and beautiful, and a few feet
in front were the waters of the bay.
The Confederates had retreated up the
Mobile and Alabama rivers, and up the
former stream the 18th Corps was at once
ordered, following for time the Mobile
q Ohio railroad. In passing about Mobile
the great strength of its defenses was re-
marked even by our common soldiers, and
had the Confederates had sufficient men to
have manned the works they would have
been almost impregnable against direct
assault.
One of the ablest engineers in the Con-
federate army said Mobile was the best
fortified place in the South.
AT Whistler, a little station on the
Mobile & Ohio railroad, few miles from
Mobile, quite a lively skirmish was had
with the enemy's cavalry. This was the
last engagement the 18th Corps partici-
pated in, and is further claimed to have
been the last battle Of the war.
Rumors now began to be circulated that
Lee had been defeated and Richmond capt
ured. But these were not confirmed.
Meantime the army moved up the coun-
try some forty or fifty miles north of Mo-
bile. The march was for the most part
through thinly-populated region with only
now and then farm house.
One day the march led over heavy roads,
and all day long through cold, drilling
rain. Towards night the command halted,
and the writer, with some companions,
found comfortable quarters before the fire
of q rude negro cabin, and ate with much
relish the corn ''hoe-cdke'' prepared at its
hearth by colored Aunty.
All, youthful comrade Of that day, now
grown to mature middle age, and, may be,
the possessor of ample fortune, and, per-
haps, the favored one Of choice circle OF
friendsl Do marble steps leading through
wide door way and stately hall to spacious
rooms with velvet carpets, richly-uphol-
stored furniture and frescoed ceiling, per-
vaded throughout-even in mid-winter-
with summer temperature, seem half as
inviting as did that rude threshold and
rough little low door through which you that
day could not enter without bowling your
head!
Or does luxurious food, prepared with
special aim to tempt and tickle the palate,
and eaten from daintiest china upon the
finest and whitest table linen, give you
half the pleasure you that day had from
Aunty's hoe-cake, eaten upon the plain board
table beside her simple hearth9
About week after leaving Mobile the
command received official notice of the fall
of Richmond and surrender of Lee. All
were of course rejoiced, knowing the war
would soon end.
For two or three days the army camped
near the residence Of Mrs. Godbow,
the mother of Mrs. General Earl
Van Dorm; it was a PLAIN two-story
frame house, painted white. Gen
eral Van Dorm had been conspicuous in
the Confederate service, but during the
second year of the war had personal diff
Guilty with Doctor Peters, Of Tennessee, by
whom he was killed. His wife was living
in the quiet lonely region, retired from the
world, apparently with no companion save
her mother While encamped at this place
the news OF Lincoln's assassination was
received. 1t was terrible news TO the SOL
diers, and the first impulse of every man
seemed desire to in some way avenge the
/ Presidents death. And had the enemy
been in our immediate front in battle array
/ there is no question but at this period the
| Union soldiers would have fought with IN
usual determination; but the Confederacy
was crumbling to pieces, and shooting
enemies OF the Government was soon to be
thing of the past.
The command finally went into camp i'm
mediately on the bank of Tombigbee river,
| at place called Macintosh Bluff. Here a
| tall flag pole eighty feet high was erected,
\ and all seemed TO have good time. The
war was substantially over, and no more
hard campaigns being in prospect, there
/ seemed nothing TO do but wait until such
! time as the Government should see fit TO
1 muster US out.
I A few OF the better-disposed people
seemed willing to renew their allegiance
/ ~ the Government and over such the army